BEDFORD  The Republican party needs to rebuild itself from the bottom up, said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour last night before addressing a gathering at a New Hampshire State Republican Committee reception.

"You're in the White House for eight or 12 years, you become a top-down party, I don't care if these are Republicans or Democrats.

When you get out, you're liberated to rebuild your party from the bottom up," he told reporters before a reception at at C.R. Sparks, which was closed to the press.

Barbour assumed chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association yesterday, following South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's resignation from the post. Sanford announced his resignation during a press conference, after admitting to an extramarital affair that took him to Argentina last week.

The Governor has got to realize-— When republicans stopped behaving like republicans, they started losing. At the same point, Dems starting acting like Dems and they starting winning. Catch a pattern here?? Rebuilding from CONSERVATIVE values while focusing on the youth vote and Internet is going to be the only way to rebuild the republican party. Youth are embarrassed to claim they are republican...WHY??? We need to work on making conservative values the "in and cool thing" Then we will succeed. The big tent myth is just that, and the dems figured it out sooner than the GOP.

I think Barbour is right on the money. Unfortunately, so many here are overreaction because of a few bad apples like our last few presidential candidates and senators.

I heard Barbour speak in my state, and this is talking about the same stuff here as he did here. He's a state's rights guy and believes in leaving those issues to the states. Besides that, its general less government.

21
posted on 06/24/2009 9:57:47 PM PDT
by Darren McCarty
(We do what we have to do.)

Not really. It is a bit of inside baseball terminology. The problem is that when Bush was in charge, it was a top down party based on Bush. The GOP was supposed to follow Bush....and his big government programs.

The hypocracy cost us in 2006 and also in 2008 when leadership failed to heed its 2006 lessons.

22
posted on 06/24/2009 9:59:27 PM PDT
by Darren McCarty
(We do what we have to do.)

What you do is focus on a set of principles and values that will make our country free, prosperous, strong, safe and where everyone will have the opportunity to be the best they can be, not hindered, held back or penalized by government.

You then won’t need to go and try to pull in people to your party, they will just naturally come by themselves, be energized and proud to be members.

33
posted on 06/24/2009 10:31:01 PM PDT
by GivemeaBREAK!
(Hey Michelle, for the 1st time in my life I'm not proud of my country! Thx a few trillion.)

No. Inclusion is not the key. Persuading people you are right is the key. That means that philosophical clarity and the courage of your convictions are key. No one was ever persuaded by someone who could not firmly and clearly and forthrightly articulate why he was right.

If you are a “moderate”, if you don’t believe in your principles enough to defend them and advance them, then you are not going to win many battles. Broadening your tent to include more people who don’t know what they believe or why they believe it isn’t going to gain you anything. You broaden your tent by convincing people.

Leadership is not pandering to the people. Its about being principled and getting people to see that you are right. Right, and thats why the RINOs wont gain any ground. Were in for CHAOS . Things are falling apart and theyre grasping at threads.

“Unless they have a Big Idea to act as a tent pole they got nothing. Being the “me too only slower” Socialist party is not going to cut it”

Agree, but if it is to be a big tent it will need more than one pole. Should be a center pole of security and two end poles of personal and economic freedom. The tent should be big enough for all who seek refuge.

39
posted on 06/25/2009 12:49:33 AM PDT
by Peter Horry
(Never were abilities so much below mediocrity so well rewarded - John Randolph)

Haley had better tack away from this liberal movement in the repubic party. He is my governor but that buys him nothing. I have had worries about him lately... he and Cochran seem to be becoming ted kennedy.

LLS

41
posted on 06/25/2009 4:19:48 AM PDT
by LibLieSlayer
(hussein will NEVER be my President... NEVER!!!)

He is my governor but danged if he doesn’t look and sound like a dim in the making. He lost me when he went 100% all out for Eminent Domain rights for the greedy state gooberment. Cochran has turned to the Darkside along with him.

LLS

42
posted on 06/25/2009 4:25:35 AM PDT
by LibLieSlayer
(hussein will NEVER be my President... NEVER!!!)

I withdrew from the repubic party... I slam the phone in their ears when they call... right after I tell them why... and my wallet... thin as it is these days... is closed to them. I support only Conservative candidates and only by direct means. I tell them that the party can no longer be trusted... that they are morphing into hussein and company... they will get no help from me.

LLS

43
posted on 06/25/2009 4:28:26 AM PDT
by LibLieSlayer
(hussein will NEVER be my President... NEVER!!!)

Palin appeals to conservatives... Perhaps 30% of the total populace. She does NOT get lib votes, and does NOT get many indie votes... She needs the indies to even entertain a shot at a Presidency... She’ll never compete seriously... Great person, great policies, great leader... No shot at POTUS

44
posted on 06/25/2009 4:52:10 AM PDT
by NYC Republican
(This Too Shall Pass- in 8 years.. how much destruction will they create?)

How about being a constitutionalist and conservative party, like your platform says you are SUPPOSED to be.

You've got that right. I have no objection to a big tent party......assuming that it means what it did when Reagan said it - the moderates and conservative Democrats are welcome to join us when they come around to our way of thinking. We do not give up our principals just to increase numbers.

Yeah, Sarah’s got no chance. That’s why nobody turns out to see her. LOL! Just like Ronald Reagan. Big loser in the presidential race. (...if you ighnore that they were the biggest landslides in American history.)

Thanks for the New York point of view. Sooooo in touch with REAL America.

Next time: thanks but no thanks.

48
posted on 06/25/2009 3:50:06 PM PDT
by Enoughofthissocialism
(Virtue is its own reward and vice is its own punishment .)

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